PVO probes Negros link to Ginatilan ASF cases

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is investigating a possible link between the African swine fever (ASF) cases detected in Ginatilan and pigs that may have come from Negros Oriental.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy, however, stressed that the possible connection remains unverified as the investigation continues to determine how the virus reached the municipality.

“There are information that surfaced. But I cannot say that this is the real cause. But it's an ongoing investigation and there's such time that we can establish where is the index case,” Vincoy said.

Vincoy said some of the affected pigs reportedly had contact with pigs from Negros Oriental. Information also surfaced that some pigs were acquired from an event in Tanjay City, while others were brought from the owners' homes.

She said the PVO is not discounting other possible factors and is continuing its disease investigation and back-tracing activities to determine the source and possible routes of transmission.

The PVO confirmed the ASF cases after receiving laboratory results from the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the Department of Agriculture on Friday, Sept. 18.

Five samples were submitted for testing—four from Ginatilan and one from Malabuyoc. Three of the four Ginatilan samples tested positive for ASF DNA, while the Malabuyoc sample tested negative.

The positive samples came from pigs in Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan, prompting the PVO to coordinate with the municipal government and activate containment measures.

Vincoy said the laboratory confirmation was relayed to local officials, including the mayor, municipal agriculturist and barangay officials, followed by an emergency meeting on the evening of Sept. 18.

“We would like to inform you that the confirmed ASF case has been detected in Ginatilan and immediate disease control and containment measures have been activated to prevent further spread,” Vincoy said.

She said the affected pigs were backyard-raised, although semi-commercial farms in other barangays remain under surveillance.

Barangays Cagsing and Calabawan have been placed under quarantine, with the movement of hogs, pork and pork by-products prohibited from the two areas.

Six checkpoints and chokepoints have also been established across Ginatilan, including along the highway and possible upland routes leading to neighboring towns.

Vincoy said the checkpoints are intended to monitor the movement of hogs, pork and related products and ensure that transported animals have the necessary documents.

“The whole barangay of Cagsing is in quarantine zone. And same with Barangay Calabawan,” Vincoy said.

The PVO is also coordinating with neighboring local government units, particularly those sharing borders with Ginatilan, for continued surveillance and monitoring.

Vincoy said the Ginatilan case was detected through a disease investigation following reports of pig mortalities in a nearby municipality, rather than through a report from the local government.

The PVO had been conducting disease tracing after alleged pig mortalities were reported in Malabuyoc. The back-tracing eventually led investigators to border areas of Ginatilan.

“It's actually a disease tracing from a nearby town,” Vincoy said.

The PVO is now conducting additional sampling in other households and barangays to determine whether the virus has spread beyond the two confirmed areas.

Seven additional samples collected from farmers and households in Cagsing and Calabawan have tested negative, but Vincoy said surveillance would continue as other affected areas could not yet be ruled out.

No culling yet

Vincoy said no culling operation is underway in Ginatilan because the PVO is still consolidating the results of its disease investigation and awaiting laboratory findings from additional samples.

The initial samples were taken from pigs that were already sick and subsequently died during the investigation.

She said the PVO could not yet provide the total number of pigs that have died in the affected area because the figure was still being consolidated as of the fifth day of the investigation.

The PVO has deployed five veterinarians to the area, with its Animal Health Division chief, Dr. Mezado, stationed there to monitor activities and coordinate with enforcement authorities.

Containment priority

Vincoy said the immediate priority is to contain the disease and prevent it from reaching other barangays and municipalities.

She said the provincial government had warned local governments as early as June about the threat posed by ASF and directed them to activate their local ASF task forces.

“There’s really a need to control and to ban. Because right now, hugin mo na siyang patuyangan, mudaghan na siya. That's the reason why we need to control and to contain,” Vincoy said.

She urged local governments to immediately report pig mortalities or suspected cases, warning that delayed reporting could allow the virus to spread through infected animals or products.

“There is no assurance for all of our activities. What we can say is just, we implement the necessary actions which is the quarantine, we quarantine the area,” Vincoy said.

The PVO has collected 2,101 samples across Cebu as part of its surveillance and disease investigation efforts, with additional testing continuing in areas considered vulnerable based on previous ASF cases and reports. — /FPL (FREEMAN)